John 15:1-2
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.
When I was a kid, there was nothing better than getting to go stay the night at a friend or family member’s house. Sometimes, my brother and I would get to go stay with one of my sisters who lived in the Missoula area. She had a video game on her computer that allowed you to make spiderman comics. We would rent a movie and play games. It was awesome. The toughest part was when we would find out and have to wait for days until the weekend came. It was painful! I had to be patient for days while I waited. It seemed like forever. Patience was never easy.
I don’t get very impatient anymore waiting for a weekend or a certain date anymore. Time is going by so fast that I actually want it to slow down. However, there are things we look forward to in life. When our kids get to a certain age, a certain financial position, a career achievement, or even the healing of a relationship. It may not be a certain date on a calendar. But all of us have a moment that we are looking forward to when it seems like things will be easier.
One of the biggest challenges that I am learning in my faith is that God often works in long, slow processes that are intentional. We all have the temptation to want to skip ahead to a future point or to avoid the hard work that it takes to get there. It’s hard to work through relational issues and hard conversations. Sometimes in jobs, it can seem like others don’t have to work nearly as hard as we do. Or, we may spend time with God and try to grow in our faith, but it seems like we are standing still.
We live in a culture that is obsessed with speed, time hacks, and instant results. However, I don’t believe this is the speed at which God works in us and forms us.
In the verses we read above from the book of John, Jesus is teaching the disciples about our connection to God and how He works in us. He says that we are the branches and that God prunes these branches to bear more fruit. I love this image that God is actively forming us to be more of the people He wants us to be. But, pruning takes time and it isn’t easy.
I have been processing how God is more dedicated to this process than I am. I want to rush to the end and get to the goal that I am trying to achieve. However, the change that takes place in us through the process – may actually be the goal. Think about all of the people who found success extremely quickly but then it started to fall apart because there was no foundation.
Inner maturity and integrity often come from a long slow process of God teaching, pruning, and changing us.
Rather than trying to rush to the end goal of where we want to be in life, in our relationships, in our careers, and even in our spiritual lives, we can slow down and embrace patience. It isn’t fun and it isn’t easy, but it’s better. When we embrace the season we’re in and grow in the middle of it, we don’t end up wasting seasons that God is trying to teach us in.
This week, take some time with God and try asking the question, “what are you trying to teach me in this season?” We typically ask God how we can get to the next stage or what the next step is. However, God may be trying to help us embrace and learn something new in this current season. What is that for you? What is God doing behind the scenes of this season?
SOAP Scripture: John 15
S: (scripture)
Read the above passage and underline, highlight, or write down passages that stand out to you. Maybe re-read it a few times if that’s helpful.
O: (observation)
Write down things you observe about the passage. Maybe it’s a word that stood out to you, something the passage made you think about, or a question that you have.
A: (application)
Write down some ways that the passage applies to your life. Make it personal.
P: (prayer)
Take a moment and pray. Ask God to make the passage practical to your everyday life.
